72-Year-Old Woman Killed In East Orange Blaze, Officials Say
EAST ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Officials say a 72-year-old woman was killed in an early morning blaze that ripped through a home in East Orange on Sunday.
According to officials, the fire began at around 5 a.m. at a residence on Midland Avenue in East Orange. The blaze then spread to an adjacent home that was under construction.
"I was just awakened by hearing screaming and yelling, 'my mom's in the house, my mom's in the house'" Crystal Wheatley, a neighbor said.
"Right next door there was a new constructed house, just built, and of course the flames from the initial house moved right to the constructed house and they just took it down," neighbor Andre Wheatley said. "Just took it down. It was surreal."
Maureen Phillips, 72, was initially unaccounted for in the hours following the blaze. Her body was later recovered and she was pronounced dead by a medical examiner on the scene, officials said.
"So I need you to understand that you know the world lost a real jewel today," Phillips told WCBS 880's Mike Smeltz.
Phillips' son told CBS2 his mother is a retired dietitian who recently had heart trouble and had issues moving around. Phillips said his son was able to save his uncle and his friend, and tried to go back into the home to save his grandmother.
"When they tried to go back and get Mama the smoke and the fire was too much," Phillips said.
Two other people jumped from the roof and were taken to a local hospital for treatment, officials said. Five other people in the house were able to escape without injuries, 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria reported.
Phillips said the family was over the home, which belonged to his mother, celebrating her granddaughter's first birthday.
Officials believe the fire began in the kitchen of the home and spread.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
